Blackhawks want Aldrich off Cup
Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz has asked the Hockey Hall of Fame to write X’s over the name of former video coach, Brad Aldrich, on the Stanley Cup.
In a letter addressed to the Hall of Fame’s chairman, Lanny McDonald, Wirtz requests “x-ing out” Aldrich’s name, which was engraved in the section for the Blackhawks’ winning team in 2010.
Earlier this week, the NHL fined the Blackhawks $2 million for what the league described as “the organization’s inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response” relating to the team’s handling of alleged incidents of sexual misconduct involving Aldrich in 2010.
The league says it punished the team following an independent investigation by the law firm Jenner & Block.
The firm’s report says in May 2010, Aldrich and an unidentified 20-yearold player, who had been called up for the playoffs from the Blackhawks’ minor league affiliate, had a sexual encounter at Aldrich’s apartment.
The player alleged Aldrich sexually assaulted him while Aldrich said the encounter was consensual, the report says.
On Wednesday, Kyle Beach, a former first round draft pick of the Blackhawks who currently plays in Germany, identified himself as the player.
Aldrich went on to work with USA Hockey, the University of Notre Dame and Miami University in Ohio, according to the report. He also worked at Houghton High School in Houghton, Michigan, where he was arrested and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in 2013.
No criminal charges have been filed against him for the 2010 allegations.
Golf
PENDRITH LEADS IN BERMUDA >> Taylor Pendrith ran off five straight birdies and flirted with a sub-60 round until settling for two closing pars and a 10-under 61 at Port Royal in Southampton, giving him a one-shot lead over Patrick Rodgers in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Pendrith was stuck on the wrong side of the draw for an opening round in rain squalls and 35 mph gusts that allowed only six players from Thursday morning to break par. He more than made up for it in ideal weather in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Pendrith had nine birdies and an eagle to offset his lone bogey on the 13th hole to move past Rodgers into the lead at 11-under 131.
Rodgers, who had to return to the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to get back his PGA Tour card, had the good end of the draw and took advantage. He followed a 68 in breezy conditions with a 64, chipping in for eagle toward the end of his round.
Vincent Whaley (67) was two shots behind, followed by Danny Lee (67) and David Skinns, the 39-year-old rookie from England who had another 67.
Patrick Reed, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 24, was six shots behind.
Tennis
SINNER EXTENDS WIN STREAK >> Jannik Sinner stretched his winning streak on indoor hard courts to 11 matches and 22 sets by beating Casper Ruud 7-5, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Erste Bank Open in Vienna.
The seventh-seeded Italian will take on American qualifier Frances Tiafoe for a place in Sunday’s final. In the other semifinal, Alexander Zverev takes on Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, who upset seventh-ranked Matteo Berrettini 6-1, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (5).
Ruud, who has won a tour-leading five titles this season, led 5-4 in the opening set but the Norwegian lost nine of the next 10 games as Sinner gained control in most rallies.